Park Vista Defeats Jupiter To Advance To 7A Regional Final

When Park Vista and Jupiter have gotten together the past two years in the playoffs, there have been fireworks. An interesting rivalry is forming between the two teams. Last year, the Warriors took out the Cobras in the 7A regional final.

On Saturday, Park Vista got their revenge.

After defeating Jupiter 5-1 on Friday night, the Cobras completed the two game sweep Saturday, with a 9-6 win, sending them back to the regional finals for the fourth time in the past five years.

“That was a good series that had its ups and downs for both teams,” said Cobras Manager Larry Greenstein. “We pitched well on Friday, and today we were able to score nine runs. That combination allowed us to play our game, and advance.”

Friday night it was ace versus ace, as Jupiter’s Ethan Trivison squared off with Park Vista’s Cody Wexler. Trivison struck out eight batters in six innings.

Wexler went the distance for the home team, allowing three hits and one earned run. Wexler struck out six.

The offense Friday came from Owen Dever, who went 2-for-3, with two runs and two RBIs, and Caleb Smith, who had two hits and three RBIs.

The game was scorelss until the fourth, and the Cobras scored five runs in two innings, to take a 5-1 lead that would hold up over the final two innings.

Saturday’s game was on the other end of the spectrum. Park Vista scored two runs in the first, and Jupiter put up four of their own in the inning. It was the first lead for Jupiter since the fourth inning of game one.

The lead, however, would not last. as the Cobras put up three runs in the fourth, and two more in the fifth, to take a 7-4 lead.

The Warriors battled back and scored two of their own in the fifth, but two runs in the top of the seventh put the game, and series, on ice for the Cobras.

The game Saturday was a sloppy one, with the two teams combining for nine errors, and 13 walks.

Smith drove in two runs for Park Vista.

“There were a lot of things that happened in that game today,” said Greenstein. “But we were able to come up with some big hits at the right times, and playoff baseball is about finding a way to win. We did that today.”

Up next for the Cobras, will be a trip to face the regions top team, Vero Beach. While the Indians are the top seed, both teams have had regional championships over the past few years. Park Vista won in 2023, and Vero advanced to states in 2024.

They are both programs deep in history, but still chasing that elusive state title.

“We get to play another week, and that is all you can ask for at this time of year. We will prepare this week, and then go up and give it our best shot to win the regional title,” said Greenstein.

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